Authors note: Sorry its a shorter chapter everyone!
Narcian's routine slowly returned to how it had been. Little by little he began to accept Asmodiace, after all he had no one else to talk to even if it was only every now and then. Though the voice seemed to get more and more restless as time went on. The feelings stirring with the voice unnerved the telepath.
Shaking off the feeling once more he looked at the door as it opened to reveal Angra. The persian nodded slightly and Narcian stood, obediantly following him down the hall but staying as close to the wall as possible. Within a few moments they reached their destination: their Lords chambers.
Once inside Narcian bowed low, falling into the usual as he heard the Master speak with Angra. Only heard, he had his own orders he was listening to silently. Snaking their way through his mind his ears twitched just vaguelly until the image appeared. It was the queen who had visited him.
'What is she hiding..." The question slithered around his brain and his blood ran cold. He tried to think, he hadn't kept anything hidden from his Lord before. But just one subtle shift of his shoulders, a subconcious movement as his eyes slid from his paws just a little to one side...
And the Hidden Paw was on him.
With a crack his head collided with the wall, sending his vision spiralling. Blinking rapidly he tried to refocus while twisted claws snaked through his headfur, the other tightening on his throat until a strangled squeak escaped him. He couldn't move his head, all he could do was stare into those horrifying furious yellow eyes. With wide eyes his paws clutched the ginger arm, but he was far to weak.
"You dare disobey me?" He snarled at the telepath.
He felt the claws digging into his scalp, a warm sensasion as blood oozed down the back of his head. Yet all his mind screamed was air. Breathe. But he couldn't. Held a couple feet off the ground, his legs were useless in his struggle to break free. His vision faultered, growing fuzzy as his mind tried to grasp reality.
Still he saw those eyes glaring into his. He was slipping...slipping into darkness...Then the agony hit.
Screaming his eyes clenched tight as he thrashed with new desperation. His claws tore at the ginger fur at Macavitys' wrist, trying to break free. The Hidden Paw just snarled and threw him to the floor, his mind never faultering from the agonizing pain he was forcing through the telepaths head.
There was a horrible echo, a replying scream only heard by Narcian. Within him something coiled and tried to escape the torture. The yellow harlequin writhed on the floor, claws sinking into his scalp as he screamed until he couldn't.
With a slash of his claws Macavity sent Narcian rolling, adding physical to the mental pain, but only for that brief moment. The young oracle struggled weakly to his knees, the gashes upon his back bled slowly, staining white and gold fur. But it did not hurt. He felt nothing physically. Not the burn of torn flesh, the warmth as the blood trickled down. Nothing. Nothing but the roar and scream within his head. There were no coherent words, just pain. Agony.
A fiery monster that wrapped around his mind. An acidic snake that coiled and crushed. Squeezing the lifeout of him, the very sanity from his brain. It was too much. Far to much. He couldn't move. Couldn't think. His mouth opened in a silent scream as tears ran down his cheeks, mingling with scarlet drops. The red was the only sign of the internal war. It leaked from his nose, mouth and ears. As if it were his very life essence seeping away.
But no...He would not die. He would not know that sweet peaceful release. Never see that darkness that others who disobey the Master disappear into. No...He was much to 'valuable'. Only this awaited. This agony...Nothing else...Never anything else...
He didn't know how he had gotten back to his room, nor did he care. Narcian just laid on his bed, to weak to move and covered in dried blood. Even Asmodiace was quiet and unmoving. The telepaths eyes were glazed as he stared at nothing, thanking bast for this silence he was filled with. And yet...He wanted nothing more than to just close his eyes and fall into a sleep he wouldn't wake from.
'Why sleep?' The voice whispered hoarsly, causing Narcian to wince. Even Asmo seemed to squirm as the migrane roared against the sudden break in silence. The telepath groaned softly and closed his eyes tight.
"There is no other escape..." He replied softly, voice creaking. The only thing he hoped for was that no visions would come tonight. He didn't know if he could handle that, his mind was already torn to shreds.
'There is...' Asmo replied weakly.
Narcian's heart skipped a beat. There was? He could feel the voice inside him move as if he were nodding.
'I...can help.' He said.
"You are just...a voice. What can you do?" The young oracle was confused and it hurt his head more.
'As I have said...' Asmodiace replied even softer. 'I am real. I am your counterpart.'
"Counterpart..." Narcian repeated, trying to understand but he was so tired. His mind exhausted from so much.
'Yes...But we are both...to weak.' He sighed. 'In time...You'll see.'
Narcian sighed and closed his eyes, nodding ever so slightly as sleep took over.
